Wang Jue's objective was to take over, or rather, seize Liu Zi's business. The moment this was stated, the entire venue erupted in gasps, though the bald, burly monk remained composed.
"They all say Ren Liu was arrested by the police. I'm just a humble fellow, wanting to take a shot at it. My men have followed me hungry for so many years, it's time for us to prosper," Wang Jue declared, standing on the stage as if giving a speech at a political rally in Western countries. He pointed at the nightclub, "Ren Liu is a formidable figure. I respect him, I yield to him, but his appetite is too greedy. Not only does he control the alcohol supply for the biggest nightclubs on Flower Street, but he's also involved in drugs with Chen Nairong! What kind of society is this now? The government is cracking down on organized crime. We brothers dare not collect protection money or run gambling dens like before. We want to do legitimate business, but Ren Liu leaves us no room to breathe!"
Wang Jue seemed to have nothing to lose. He addressed the hundreds of people present, "Those here tonight are my seniors and my brothers. Tell me, in these past few years, who hasn't had to kowtow to Ren Liu to make a living? Unfortunately, Ren Liu has gone mad. He's abandoned his empire to play with drugs with Chen Nairong. Drugs, can we brothers touch that stuff now? I, Wang Jue, may not be a good person, but I'm not a bad one either. I won't force good people into prostitution, nor will I peddle drugs to harm others. If the government forbids it, we won't do it. We'll be law-abiding citizens! As for business, listen up, brothers. If Ren Liu isn't eliminated, you can't even sell alcohol, beverages, wet wipes, lighting supplies, parking fees, or even the sanitary pads the hostesses use. Now, if I can take over Ren Liu's alcohol business, I won't be greedy. I'll only take fifty percent, and the rest will be a fair competition, based on skill!"
To be fair, Wang Jue's speech was quite persuasive. In recent years, with the deepening crackdown on organized crime, many gang leaders have been imprisoned. Individuals who previously operated on the fringes of society, like Ren Liu and Wang Jue, who sought to monopolize the entertainment venue business through their influence, began to "emerge."
These types of individuals, unlike pure gangsters who sought profit through illegal means, operated by leveraging their "popularity" to monopolize business in a particular industry through subtle fraud and coercion. For instance, during the incident where Liu Zi sought revenge for Lin Dang, he didn't resort to violence but simply aimed to disrupt. To put it in more relatable terms, if you were renovating your house, people in your neighborhood might block you from bringing in supplies unless you hired their people. It was incredibly annoying. However, once you succumbed, they would engage in legitimate business, selling alcohol, selling tobacco, and so on. Essentially, for your establishment to thrive, you had to purchase goods from them.
It's amusing to think that while these methods didn't involve physical violence, they still bordered on forced sales. However, the shop owners themselves were "socially connected" individuals. They might as well find a "big tree" to shelter under. Since the other party was showing them such "respect," the prices would naturally be "negotiable," and the quality would be impeccable. With a long-term supply chain, no one in their right mind would compromise on quality to ensure longevity. In short, they profited from this "long-term stability" and earned this "steady income."
Now, Wang Jue has stepped forward, attempting to disrupt Ren Liu's business network. It's obvious to anyone that this is at the behest of Boss Wan behind him. However, Wang Jue's proposal did indeed pique the interest of some of the "big brothers" present.
"Wang Jue, go back and tell your Boss Wan that if he wants to do business, he should come himself," the monk remained unperturbed, unfazed by Wang Jue's rhetoric. "As for Liu Ge's situation, it's not something you can just pry into. All I can advise you now is to watch your step and don't bring trouble upon yourself."
"Everyone here knows, Liu Ge has a vast capacity, and his waters run deep. Anyone who tries to stir them up might drown," the monk's final remark was clearly directed at others.
The monk's words clearly carried weight. Ping An and others might not fully grasp Ren Liu's capabilities, but the social figures present certainly did.
Wang Jue couldn't gain anything from the monk and likely wouldn't win in a fight. The monk's words provided a graceful exit. He weighed his options, feeling that his probing tonight had at least helped his boss complete his task, and decided to withdraw.
"Alright! Then I'll go back now and buy a life jacket, and we'll see how Ren Liu drowns me!" Wang Jue spat out a harsh remark and turned to leave.
Just as everyone thought this storm was about to subside, a provocative voice suddenly rang out from the crowd, "Master Jue, don't be a coward! Go get 'em!"
"Who the hell is it?" Wang Jue, who had taken a few steps away, stopped abruptly upon hearing this and cursed at the crowd.
From the crowd, a young man, about eighty percent drunk, emerged, swaying with a half-full beer mug.
"This is bad, how could it be him!" The monk, who had been relieved that Wang Jue was leaving, was now angered by this sudden provocation. He clenched his fists, ready to see which ignorant bastard dared to ruin things, only to see that it was Ping An.
"Master Jue, don't be a coward! I know the inside scoop. Ren Liu is dealing in drugs and has been caught. If he's not executed, it'll be a life sentence. You played the hero for a while and showed your loyalty upfront. My brothers respect you! We're willing to let you lead!" Ping An, tipsy, stumbled towards Wang Jue, bowing and scraping. This left Wang Jue utterly bewildered.
When did he gain such influence? Were there really people willing to follow him? But who was this guy? Wang Jue squinted, looking at Ping An with confusion.
The monk, standing to the side, knew who this person was. However, his knowledge was limited to recognition. In their few encounters, he had always been on the outside looking in, while Ping An sat in the main seat.
The monk understood Ping An's influence, even setting aside his connections with the police. Ping An's status and his circle of friends were beyond the monk's reach. Liu Zi had mentioned that some "retired" big shots in Hechuan City were close friends with Ping An. Wang Jue's boss, "Boss Wan," had nearly been brought down by one of Ping An's "anti-crime" reports and only offered sincere greetings and bows upon meeting him.
Ping An's appearance now was undoubtedly significant. The monk wanted to step forward and introduce him, perhaps even reveal his identity, but he felt he wasn't on the right level to do so. What should he do? With Liu Zi just arrested, Ping An's presence was far more troublesome than a mere Wang Jue.
As the monk racked his brain for a way to "introduce" Ping An to everyone, Wang Jue was growing impatient.
"Get lost, stop bothering me, you drunken fool." Wang Jue had planned to test Ren Liu's movements by causing a scene tonight, intending to injure a few people and establish his authority. He hadn't expected the monk to intervene. Facing the monk, he hadn't dared to make a move. Now, feeling incredibly frustrated, a troublemaker like this appearing was a perfect opportunity to assert his dominance.
"Master Jue, just consider me a fart. Our boss sent me out for two reasons: first, to support you, and second, to give you a heads-up. He said nobody really knows what Ren Liu's situation is. Tonight's commotion didn't yield any clear answers, did it?" Ping An said, feigning caution.
"Are you looking for a beating?" Wang Jue, unable to control himself, wanted to act. A small knife was already in his hand.
"Hold on!" At this moment, the monk suddenly shouted, freezing both the restless Wang Jue and the loquacious Ping An.
"If you gentlemen are here to consume, you are welcome. If you have nothing else, please leave. If there's any trouble, we'll call the police," the monk said.
"Oh really, Liu Ge, what impressive methods! Since when did you start playing with the police? Did dealing drugs not suffice, are you planning a political career now?" Wang Jue, upon hearing the monk threaten to call the police, felt an inexplicable surge of satisfaction. Everyone in their circles knew that people who said such things were essentially admitting defeat.
Unfortunately, the monk ignored Wang Jue's taunt and walked up to Ping An, a smile on his face. "Sir, if you wish to stay and enjoy our establishment, please return to your seat. Tonight's events, oh, it seems we've disturbed you. How about this, all your expenses tonight are on the house, and we'll also present you with a bottle of Cheval Blanc as an apology."
The monk's words left the onlookers confused. They couldn't make heads or tails of what was happening. What was the monk playing at?
"Cheval Blanc? What year?" Ping An maintained his drunken act, but he knew the monk recognized him.
"Good wine for honored guests! If a good friend comes, naturally we'll serve the '05 Cheval Blanc!" The monk waved his hand, instructing a subordinate to bring a bottle of red wine and place it on the table beside Ping An.
"You recognize me?" Ping An picked up the wine, squinted at it, and then looked at the monk, noticing the burly man appeared quite uneasy, beads of sweat on his forehead.
"It's an honor for a reporter like Ping An to grace our humble establishment. I wouldn't dare presume to converse with you. Since I've been fortunate enough to strike up a conversation tonight, I beg you to grant me some face," the monk clasped his hands and bowed to Ping An like a commoner.
"Of course, of course. But I'm not here by chance today. I'm also very interested in what Master Jue wants to know," Ping An said, placing the wine on the table with a hint of mischief.
The situation kept shifting. Wang Jue, the intended protagonist of the night's disturbance, had become a peripheral figure, which greatly displeased him.
"What kind of bird reporter are you? This is my territory, and you dare to run wild here!" Wang Jue was visibly annoyed by Ping An's demeanor, feeling that all his spotlight had been stolen.
"A mere punk desperate for attention. Brother Ping An, you don't need to bother with him," the monk stepped forward, positioning himself between Wang Jue and Ping An. While it appeared he was trying to prevent Wang Jue from making a move, Ping An clearly understood the implication: the monk didn't want him to collude with Wang Jue to inquire about Liu Zi's affairs.
"Oh, don't say that. I have a mission too. The editorial department wants me to write a feature story, and Liu Zi is my subject. But Liu Zi was arrested, so I came to see who could provide me with some clues," Ping An said, looking at the monk, unwavering.
"Heh heh, as I said before, if you're here to spend, everything is on us tonight. If you want to know about Liu Ge's situation, please go to the police. I know nothing here, and you won't find anything out," the monk, seeing Ping An's persistence, gave a firm but polite refusal.
"Monk, stop pretending. Why would Liu Zi willingly turn himself in to the police? Don't try to cover it up. Those who know will tell, or you'll have to say it somewhere else soon. Don't say I didn't warn you, the people who came with me tonight are not easy to deal with. They usually like to tie people up and interrogate them," Ping An whispered, so only the two of them could hear. "Liu Zi is quite a figure. I have no grievances with Liu Zi, I just want to know what happened to Niu Jian and Wu An. He controls the alcohol network, and he makes no less money than playing with drugs with Chen Nairong. If you know anything, tell me quickly. If you're not involved, I can protect you."
Upon hearing Ping An's words, the monk grew increasingly flustered and remained silent. Ping An wasn't in a hurry, staring intently at him, feeling that the burly man was about to break. The brief silence in the venue made Wang Jue feel strange, but more than that, it filled him with inexplicable anger. Why was an ordinary reporter standing between him and the monk? Why did the monk place so much importance on him? What did he even represent?
Enraged, Wang Jue suddenly shouted, swinging a wine bottle behind his back and lunging past the stunned monk towards Ping An, the bottle aimed at Ping An's face.
"Wan Chunsheng!" At the very moment the bottle was about to strike, Ping An didn't dodge. Instead, he suddenly shouted out a name. Many people didn't know this name, only those closest to him did. For instance, Wang Jue, upon hearing the three words "Wan Chunsheng," instinctively paused, and the wine bottle stopped less than three inches from Ping An's face.
"Are you hiding in the crowd and afraid to come out?" Ping An shouted. "If I survive today, I'll be watching you every single day for the rest of my life! Do you believe me!"
"Let's talk calmly! Ah Jue, put the bottle down!" From within the crowd, a middle-aged man wearing a mink coat, chewing on a cigar, emerged slowly to the front, protected by three or four people.
"Ping An, my friend, you see, I just arrived. Heh heh, it's better to arrive early than not at all!" Wan Chunsheng slowly approached Wang Jue, giving him a stern look. Wang Jue immediately led his men towards the exit.
"It's better to leave early than arrive late! Isn't that right, Boss Wan!" Ping An didn't even glance at Wan Chunsheng.
"Alright, I'm leaving, I'm leaving." Wan Chunsheng felt snubbed, but he also knew this was not a situation he could meddle in, as he saw fear on the monk's face.
Wan Chunsheng left, Wang Jue left. In the center of the nightclub, the onlookers, who had formed rings around the scene, were "kindly" persuaded by the monk's subordinates to return to their seats. The DJ played some "upbeat" music, and laughter once again filled the air.
"Please follow me." The monk's defenses had finally been breached by Ping An. He beckoned Ping An to follow him, and they headed towards the back of the nightclub.
"Ping An, whether you set a trap tonight or not, I'm impressed. I don't know much about Liu Ge's situation. What do you want to ask?" In the back of the nightclub, which was essentially a small bar counter, the monk invited Ping An to sit at the bar. He first took a large gulp of brandy, then dismissed his subordinates, and asked Ping An in a low voice, "What do you want to know?"
"Who forced Liu Zi to deal drugs? Who forced Liu Zi to get caught? What was Liu Zi's real objective? Who is the mastermind behind it all?" Ping An was straightforward, throwing out several questions at once.
"As expected of a reporter. How did you know Liu Ge was forced? He wouldn't tell you these things," the monk said, looking at Ping An with surprise.
"When Ren Liu started out in this business, Chen Nairong was still in his police uniform. Moreover, Ren Liu had money and status. Reaching this point, in any aspect, he was superior to Chen Nairong. How could Ren Liu accept Chen Nairong as his boss for a monthly income of a few thousand yuan, with no status, no future, and facing imprisonment for something more serious than a public disturbance? This is something I can't understand, so I must find out. If you don't want to harm Ren Liu, tell me everything you know."
"Alright, I won't hide it from you. Liu Ge has indeed been forced into this situation," the monk sighed and recounted Ren Liu's story to Ping An.
Just as Ping An "successfully" set his trap and finally heard the true story of Ren Liu, in the detention center of Hechuan City Public Security Bureau, Ren Liu, who was temporarily held there, took advantage of the guards' laxity in the dead of night and deliberately broke a finger on his left hand.
"Someone! I was coerced! The police beat me!" Looking at the unnatural angle of his left index finger, Ren Liu, gritting his teeth in pain, shouted desperately!
This outcry attracted the attention of the guards. When they discovered Ren Liu's broken finger, they immediately called for the on-duty doctor. After a brief examination, the doctor insisted that Ren Liu be sent to the hospital, otherwise, not only his finger but his entire left hand might be permanently disabled.
Back at the nightclub, seeing that Ping An had achieved his goal and followed the monk to the back, Yan Qing and the others breathed a sigh of relief. Amidst the deafening electronic music, a wave of sleepiness washed over them.
"I'm going out for some air!" Yan Qing waved his hand and walked out of the bar alone.
Gao Xiaofei and Mei Qian, sitting nearby, momentarily set aside their worries. While patiently waiting for Ping An's return, they examined the bottle of Cheval Blanc, said to be worth tens of thousands of yuan.
On the road from Hechuan City Public Security Bureau to the hospital, the duty officer made calls one by one to Yan Qing, Gao Xiaofei, and Mei Qian. However, the roaring electronic music inside the nightclub drowned out all sounds, including the ringing of their cell phones.
"All the bosses are unreachable. What should we do?" the duty officer said to the escorting officers in the police car.
"Let's go to the hospital first. If we delay his treatment, it'll be trouble for both of us," the escorting officer replied.
Ren Liu, clutching his left hand and with his eyes closed, breathed heavily and rapidly, whether from pain or something else, it was unclear.
As the police car pulled into the hospital, an emergency doctor, who had been waiting, rushed Ren Liu into the emergency room.
"What happened to your hand?" the emergency doctor asked while putting on surgical gloves.
"The police coerced me and framed me. I didn't cooperate, so they broke my finger," Ren Liu said, feigning grievance.
"You're talking nonsense. Our Hechuan police are quite decent; they wouldn't do something like that," the emergency doctor, after a moment of surprise, regained his composure.
"Then Doctor, what do you think happened to my finger while I was at the Public Security Bureau? Did I break it myself?" Ren Liu continued to play the victim.
"I'm only responsible for your treatment. We don't need to know the specifics. What I need to know right now is how your finger got this way. Was it broken or fractured? If this isn't clarified, the treatment will be incorrect, and you might never be able to use your left hand again," the emergency doctor said urgently.
"It was broken. Someone broke it," Ren Liu cried out in pain.
"Anything you heard just now, do not spread. This is a disciplinary matter. Did everyone hear that?" the emergency doctor said to his colleagues.
Although his finger was broken, it was fortunate that treatment was prompt, and Ren Liu's finger was saved. However, it was a serious injury, requiring a few days of hospitalization and IV drips.
After being discharged from the emergency room, Ren Liu, being a criminal suspect, was taken through "special channels" and admitted to a single room that night.
What was called a single room was essentially a converted semi-basement room. Because this hospital had a long-term contract with the Hechuan City Public Security Bureau, it always kept special rooms available for criminal suspects or prisoners transferred from jail.
Using a semi-basement as a ward was quite an innovative move by the hospital. These rooms had windows at the very top of the wall, reinforced with steel bars. Unless one stood on a stool, they were practically out of reach. Furthermore, these rooms had only two access points. When police were on duty, they only needed to guard these two doors to prevent anyone from escaping.
"When it's dawn, neither of us should sleep. We'll hand him over to Captain Gao in the morning, and our mission will be complete," one policeman said to another, sitting to the left of the room's entrance.
"All the higher-ups are unreachable. Should I call for backup from the precinct? We're only two people here," the policeman asked.
"No need. I'll take a look, and then lock the door from the outside. Someone will come in the morning," the seated policeman said, standing up. He pushed open the room door and saw Ren Liu, who had just finished his IV drip, staring blankly at the ceiling.
"Don't cause any more trouble. Your left hand is injured, so I'll lock your right hand. We'll be outside. If you need anything, just call out, understood?" The policeman put a pair of handcuffs on Ren Liu's right hand.
"Buddy, you don't think the iron bars on that window above my head will fall out, do you?" Ren Liu, allowing the police to handcuff him, still looked up at the ceiling, casually joking with the policeman about the window bars.
Hearing Ren Liu's words, the policeman cast a wary glance at the window above Ren Liu's head. After a careful inspection, finding no issues, he no longer paid attention to Ren Liu. He walked out of the room, closed the door, and used a U-shaped bicycle lock, temporarily found, to securely lock the door from the outside.
"He can't fly out of here even if he had wings!" The policeman tested the secured lock and said to his colleague.